Copy
Welcome to YouthBorders E-Bulletin July (1) 2021
View this email in your browser
Welcome to YouthBorders E-Bulletin July (1) 2021
Our weekly E-Bulletin brings together news, events, training and opportunities relevant to the youth work sector in the Scottish Borders. Created especially for organisations within the YouthBorders network. If you have news to contribute or have any feedback about our E-Bulletin please get in touch.
YouthBorders News, Reminders, Events & Training
YouthBorders – Summer Capacity
As a small staff team, YouthBorders will be operating on reduced capacity in the coming weeks as staff take their annual leave this summer. 
  • In the period 14th July through to 23rd July Membership Support will be provided by Youth Scotland. This includes support related to Covid-19 Guidance, Risk Assessments, Governance, Funding etc.
  • For all other enquiries such as Training, PVG, Membership Renewal, Bulletin please contact Jemma as normal.
We appreciate your patience over the next few weeks as we will be working with less capacity.
COVID-19 Guidance and Information: Update 5th July 2021
The Guiding Framework to Support Youth Work Delivery has been updated (5th July) and can be found on the YouthLink Scotland Youth Work Recovery hub and on the YouthBorders Padlet
In line with the Scottish Government Guidance for school visits and trips, changes have been made which relate to the delivery of youth work residential learning experiences. Please see the ‘Permitted approaches to delivery’ on pages 6-11 for details.
A reminder:
  • In levels 0-2, following a risk assessment, a space-based approach should be taken in line with capacity guidance. Numbers permitted are to be based on the capacity of the venue, providing physical distancing and other mitigations remain in place.
  • Two-metre distancing between adults and young people, and between young people (12 and over) should be always maintained.
  •  Face coverings should be worn by anyone aged 12 years of age and over, in all indoor spaces. Youth work leaders may wish to consider strengthening the use of face coverings to address specific local circumstances e.g. where increased community transmission is being seen 
  • Please note the ‘expectations before delivery’, outlined in the youth work guidance should be in place when planning for the delivery of any youth work activity.
We would advise you to review your risk assessment in line with the updated guidance and share this with staff and volunteers.
 
For any specific questions regarding the guidance please contact Ayliffe at YouthBorders or visit the YouthLink Scotland FAQ.
Get Into Summer - Free Activities and Financial Inclusion with LiveBorders and SBC
  • Support to families and young people – LiveBorders have a range of Activity Camps available – FREE places can be allocated using a voucher code. If you have any families/children that you work with who could be supported with FREE places then please let YouthBorders know or contact your local Community Assistance Hubs who have voucher codes.
  • FREE Cinema for Youth Groups – LiveBorders are providing FREE cinema/film screenings at Heart of Hawick this summer. If your group would like to organise a group trip to the cinema for a private screening then please contact Live Borders – the cinema capacity is 17 people, and you can pick your own film.
  • FREE Cinema for children, young people, families – LiveBorders are providing FREE cinema tickets to families/young people at Heart of Hawick who may face a financial barrier to attending the cinema.  The voucher codes can be used in place of payment using the public access booking system: What's On - (patronbase.com) . Note your interest with YouthBorders if you would like to support this opportunity. 
  • FREE use of the MUGA/3G Cages in Peebles and Galashiels – LiveBorders have some FREE availability to book the Gytes MUGA or Gala 3G Cage for youth clubs and groups. If your youth group are interested in finding out more please email Live Borders.  
  • Scottish Borders Hardship Fund – Financial support to remove barriers to participation and involvement for individual children, young people or their families can be provided by the Scottish Borders Hardship Fund. This can include provision of supermarket vouchers or other payment alternatives as well as purchasing specific items/goods to support travel, food, equipment costs to enable participation. Referrals should be made via the local Community Assistance Hubs either by your organisation or by the family themselves.  For example this might include travel, clothing or equipment for activity for a young person to get involved. Community Assistance Hubs | Scottish Borders Council (scotborders.gov.uk)
YouthBorders Covid-19 Padlet
Please find a collection of useful information and resources to assist YouthBorders members and their trustees in adapting to Covid-19 restrictions. This includes the latest government guidance and tools to support its implementation. To find out more CLICK HERE
Sector News and Events
South of Scotland's Economic Strategy
Earlier this year, as part of a series of engagement efforts across the South of Scotland SOSE reached out across the region looking for input into the region’s first ever economic strategy. 
 
They saw close to 1,000 individuals, businesses, communities and organisations – covering a diverse range of interests – put forward their views of the opportunities and challenges facing the South of Scotland.
 
That participation and engagement has helped the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership shape the draft strategy – a vital document for the future prosperity of our region and our communities. It has helped them set out a 10-year vision, built around six essential themes we believe will help create a greener, fairer and flourishing South of Scotland.
 
They are calling on you again to make sure they got it right, and you can have your say until consultation closes on 16 August at https://sosrep.dumgal.gov.uk/.
FREE Online Volatile Substance Abuse Training
  • Tuesday 17th August(9.30 - 12.00) 
  • Thursday 19th August (9.30 - 12.00)
  • Tuesday 24th August (9.30 - 12.00)
  • Thursday 26th August (9.30 - 12.00)
The interactive training is delivered via Zoom webinar. There is a maximum of 20 spaces per webinar. As usual, this training is free of charge in Scotland.

Course Content:
  • Understand what Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA) is
  • Understand the broad dangers associated with VSA
  • Know VSA mortality rates and trends
  • Know prevalence rates as far as is possible
  • Know what products are used in VSA
To book training or for further information please contact:
Irene Scullion, Training & Prevention Lead - Scotland

The Scottish Government has unveiled a new online learning resource
The Mental Health Foundation ScotlandDigital Bricks Learning and Children’s Health Scotland have created a Professional Learning Resource for Scottish Government in Mental Health and Wellbeing. It has been designed for all staff working in schools across Scotland. It is open access and available to anyone who may find it of benefit.

The resource takes a whole school approach centred around prevention and early intervention to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for everyone in the school community. It aims to provide school staff with knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing in schools and a range of opportunities to learn about experiences and advice from practitioners and young people.

There are four main sections split into bitesize topics. The core content should take around 6-7 hours to complete and there are suggestions for further learning. Learners can move through topics at their own time and pace in any order. To find out more CLICK HERE

Launch of Best Practice Learning Network for Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention
Starting from 26th July 2021
NHS Borders are delighted to launch a new ‘blended’ model of learning for the ‘Skilled’ level of the Mental Health Improvement and Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm framework. This is made up of two components:
 
  1. A series of self-directed e-learning modules on the NHS ‘TURAS’ website (available for anyone to download freely here) covering the topics of:
    •       Promoting Mental Health and Tackling Inequalities;
    •       Supporting people in distress and crisis,
    •       Supporting people at risk of suicide,
    •       Supporting people at risk of self-harm,
    •       Supporting recovery and quality of live for people living with mental ill-health
  2.  A new local ‘Best Practice Learning Network’ supported by the Joint Health Improvement Team to supplement learning about each topic. 
Who is the Skilled Level learning for?
The 'Skilled Level' describes the knowledge and skills required by ‘non-specialist’ front line staff working in health, social care, wider public and other services. These workers are likely to have direct and/or substantial contact with people who may be at risk of mental ill health, self-harm or suicide, meaning that they have an important contribution to make in mental health improvement and self-harm and suicide prevention. You may wish to attend as a follow on from ‘informed’ level learning or to supplement learning provided through Scottish Mental Health First Aid or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
 
Please email health.improvement@borders.scot.nhs.uk to register attendance at each of the sessions, specifying which one(s) you would like to book.
Youth Work Opportunities
Poverty and Inequality Commission - The Panel
Would you like to be involved in decisions about poverty and inequality in Scotland?
The Poverty and Inequality Commission believes that people with experience of poverty should be at the centre of decision-making that affects their lives. In August 2021 we are setting up a panel, or group, of 15 - 20 experts by experience from across Scotland. By ‘experts by experience’ we mean people with experience of poverty and inequality.
To find out more and how you can be involved CLICK HERE
Summer at Eat Sleep Ride
They have several activities on in Summer 2021, all focused around our Summer of Wellbeing theme.

Camps and Lessons: They have spaces on a few of their Summer Pony Camp details. (Non-Residential). These have something for everyone and will be a mixture of riding, stable lessons, games, nature activities and lots of fun in the sun.
  •  Minis, Age 5 - 9, 10th / 11th / 12th August. 10am - 2pm. £45 p/d or £120 for the 3 days (in one week)
  • Midis, Age 10 + . 3rd / 4th / 5th August, 10am - 4pm, £65 p/d or £165 for the 3 days (in one week)
They also have lots of slots for lessons and hacks, so just email to book. Contact them on eatsleepridecic@gmail.com to book any of these events.
Funding for Organisations & Financial Support for Individuals

Santander Foundation
The Financial & Digital Empowerment Fund aims to help more people in the UK become digitally and financially empowered- supporting UK charities to give people the digital confidence, knowledge, and skills to enable then to make better, more informed decisions about money and have access to financial services.

They want to provide grants to organisations in the UK and support them in delivering digital and financial empowerment to people over the next three years.

 They are investing £1.8 million into the Financial & Digital Empowerment Fund in 2021 and aim to award 12 grants of up to a total of £150,000 per organisation. They will award grants over a three-year period. If accepted, you can ask for differing amounts in each of the three years. You can request a minimum of £25,000 in any one year, with the maximum of £150,000 over three years.
To find out more click here

Tesco Community Fund
Tesco is keen to support local projects that address issues around food insecurity and I wonder if you or your colleagues in the regional areas would be able to let local  groups  know about this opportunity and encourage them to apply. Ideally it would be good if they can apply by the end of July/beginning of August if they want to be considered for this round of in store voting. There are a lot of stores across Scotland that have not had any applications for the fund.

The quarterly customer in store voting rounds for each store area will aim to have one each of the following types of project 

•          1 x Children & Families

•          1 x Food insecurity

•          1 x Tesco local store nomination

 

Customers will be able to choose from 3 shortlisted projects. The project selected 1st will get £1500; 2nd £1000 and 3rd £500. If groups have received Tesco funding previously, they will need to ensure that they have submitted a completion report for your project before applying.
To find out more click here

Barclays - 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund
As the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, Barclays will be making a further 50 donations of £100,000 each to UK charities working to support vulnerable people and communities impacted by COVID-19, and to alleviate the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis. UK charities, with an annual income of at least £1m, are invited to apply to receive a donation of £100,000 to meet the needs of our communities as they emerge from the pandemic, including:

  • help for people experiencing physical and mental health issues;
  • financial assistance for people facing financial hardship;
  • support for ethnically diverse communities disproportionately impacted by the crisis; 
  • enhancing digital accessibility.

To find out more and how to apply click here

Area Partnerships and locality Community Funds
Working groups were established in each of the five localities which have revised the criteria and processes of the Community Fund in each area. An update on the Community Fund in each area is listed below:

Berwickshire

Berwickshire Community Fund opened to applications on 1 June. A community led assessment panel has been recruited. Information about the Berwickshire Community Fund is available on the SBC website.

Cheviot
Cheviot Community Fund opened to applications on 5 July. A community led assessment panel is currently being recruited. There is ring fenced representation for community councils and a young person with a further three places available to the wider community. Applications should be made using the online form; recruitment closes on 26 July.

Eildon
Eildon Community Fund is open to applications. A community led assessment panel is currently being recruited. Applications should be made using the online form; recruitment closes on 28 July.

Tweeddale
Tweeddale Community Fund is open to applications. A community led assessment panel is currently being recruited. Applications should be made using the online form; recruitment closes on 28 July.

Teviot and Liddesdale
The Teviot and Liddesdale Community Fund is temporality paused whist arrangements are being finalised.
 

The working groups also made recommendations as to what the next steps are for the Area Partnerships themselves. These are currently being consulted on. The consultation, which closes on 1 August is available here.

If you have any queries about anything contained in this email please do not hesitate to contact us at communitygrants@scotborders.gov.uk

 

Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund
The Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund has reopened for applications with refreshed criteria. Over £600,000 has been distributed in phase one (February – May 2021). The next phase, commencing 1st July, will support groups to access the remaining funds.

The purpose of the Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund is to provide small grants to community and voluntary groups across Scotland who are delivering activities that connect and support people within their local community.

The Fund aims to reach groups who:

  • Have strong local relationships with people in the community.
  • Are already supporting people in their communities to reconnect and improve wellbeing.
  • Have an annual income of less than £50,000.
To find out more CLICK HERE
Foundation Scotland - Volant Charitable Trust Open Grants 
The Volant Trust’s aim is to support women, children and young people who are at risk and facing social deprivation. It supports Scottish charities and projects, whether national or community-based, which help alleviate social deprivation, particularly supporting women, children and young people at risk. Projects must demonstrate a strong focus on supporting women and children affected by hardship or disadvantage and on tackling the issues they face in order to make a lasting difference to their lives and life chances. Find out more here
The deadline for applications is 31st October 2021
Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund.
The one-off £500,000 fund has been established as part of the response and recovery efforts relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The aim is to provide support for initiatives, projects or events that will ‘re-boot’ or ‘kick start’ activities relating to sport, culture, volunteering, tackling environment and climate change issues with the overall aim of strengthening community capacity, resilience and engagement.

The fund is available for one-off new initiatives and projects and has been divided between the five localities of Berwickshire, Cheviot, Eildon, Teviot and Liddesdale and Tweeddale.

The fund is open from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 and is available to both constituted groups (maximum £15k) and non-constituted groups (maximum £5k, with payment through an umbrella body). A fast track process is available for applications of up to £1.5k. Funding will be allocated on a one-off basis only and successful applicants must have spent their award within 6 months.

More information about the application process and eligibility criteria is available

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter
Like our page on Facebook Like our page on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Instagram
Check out our Website Check out our Website
Copyright © 2021 YouthBorders, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp